Sam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to protect the Britain's small live music spots.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his third album People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages played in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it hadn't been for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also took part, raising in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues stemming from flooding, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, court cases and sound issues.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading facilities and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The idea that money from concerts in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has stated.
The musician is among several artists to give his award funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the trophy in 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would donate their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, artist Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," the artist told outlets.
Two years ago, they donated their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, alongside other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was ample," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning touched another person's life."
Last week, the trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the buildings.
